ESL CONNECT | Present Simple: Actions vs States

Explanation: actions vs states

The present simple can describe regular actions, habits, facts and states. A key difference is between action verbs and state verbs.

1. Action verbs

Action verbs describe things people do. They can be habits or routines in the present simple.

Action verb	Example	Meaning
work	I work in an office.	regular activity
study	She studies English.	regular activity
play	They play football on Saturdays.	habit
cook	He cooks dinner every evening.	routine

2. State verbs

State verbs describe feelings, thoughts, possession, senses or permanent situations. They are not usually actions you can “see happening”.

Type	Common state verbs	Examples
Feelings	like, love, hate, prefer, want, need	I like music. / She wants a coffee.
Thinking	know, understand, believe, think, remember	He knows the answer. / I understand.
Possession	have, own, belong	They have a car. / This bag belongs to me.
Senses	see, hear, smell, taste, feel	I hear music. / This soup tastes good.
Being	be, seem, appear	She is tired. / It seems difficult.

3. State verbs usually use the present simple

Many state verbs are normally used in the present simple, not the present continuous.

Correct	Incorrect
I like this song.	I am liking this song.
She knows the answer.	She is knowing the answer.
We need help.	We are needing help.
This pizza tastes good.	This pizza is tasting good.

4. Present simple forms

Subject	Affirmative	Negative	Question
I / you / we / they	I like tea.	I don’t like tea.	Do you like tea?
he / she / it	She likes tea.	She doesn’t like tea.	Does she like tea?

5. Some verbs can be action or state verbs

Some verbs have two meanings. One meaning is a state, and one meaning is an action.

Verb	State meaning	Action meaning
have	I have a car. = possession	I’m having lunch. = eating
think	I think this is right. = believe/opinion	I’m thinking about the problem. = mental action now
see	I see your house. = can see	I’m seeing the doctor tomorrow. = meeting
taste	This soup tastes salty. = state/sense	The chef is tasting the soup. = action

Remember:
Habit/action = present simple: I play tennis every week.
State/feeling/thought/possession = usually present simple: I know him. She has a car. We need help.
Some verbs can change meaning: I have a car vs I’m having lunch.

Action verb or state verb?

Choose the correct category.

1. know

action state

2. play

state action

3. need

state action

4. cook

action state

5. believe

action state

6. belong

state action

Present simple with state verbs

Choose the correct present simple sentence.

1. Choose the correct sentence.

I am liking this song. I like this song. I likes this song.

2. Choose the correct sentence.

She is knowing the answer. She know the answer. She knows the answer.

3. Choose the correct sentence.

We are needing help. We need help. We needs help.

4. Choose the correct sentence.

This soup is tasting good. This soup taste good. This soup tastes good.

Correct the mistake

Correct: I am understanding the question.

Answer: I understand the question.

Present simple with actions and habits

Choose the correct present simple form.

1. She __________ tennis every Saturday.

play plays is playing

2. They __________ in a restaurant.

works work are work

3. He __________ dinner on Mondays.

doesn’t cooks doesn’t cook don’t cook

4. __________ English every day?

Do you study Does you study Are you study

Write the sentence

Complete: She / study / English / every evening.

Answer: She studies English every evening.

Present simple or present continuous?

Choose the best form. State verbs usually use the present simple.

1. I __________ the answer.

am knowing know knows

2. Look! She __________ dinner now.

cooks is cooking cook

3. We __________ more time.

are needing need needs

4. Listen! They __________ music.

play plays are playing

5. This jacket __________ to my brother.

is belonging belongs belong

B1: verbs with action and state meanings

Some verbs can be state verbs or action verbs depending on meaning.

1. I __________ a small apartment. = possession

am having have having

2. I __________ lunch with Marco now. = eating / activity

have am having has

3. I __________ this is a good idea. = opinion

am thinking think thinking

4. I __________ about my holiday plans. = mental activity now

am thinking think thinks

5. This cake __________ delicious. = state/sense

is tasting tastes taste

6. The chef __________ the soup. = action now

tastes is tasting taste

B1 contrast practice

Choose the best answer. Pay attention to meaning: state or action?

1. Meaning: I understand you.

I am seeing what you mean. I see what you mean. I seeing what you mean.

2. Meaning: I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow.

I see the doctor tomorrow. I’m seeing the doctor tomorrow. I’m see the doctor tomorrow.

3. Meaning: the room has a strange smell.

This room is smelling strange. This room smells strange. This room smell strange.

4. Meaning: she is using her nose now.

She smells the flowers. She is smelling the flowers. She smelling the flowers.

5. Choose the correct state verb sentence.

I am not believing him. I don’t believe him. I doesn’t believe him.

Correct the mistake

Correct: She is wanting a new phone.

Answer: She wants a new phone.

Correct: I am thinking this exercise is useful.

Answer: I think this exercise is useful.

Mixed practice

Choose the best answer.

1. She __________ classical music.

is loving loves love

2. Look! The children __________ in the park.

run are running runs

3. This phone __________ to me.

is belonging belongs belong

4. Be quiet. I __________ about the answer.

think am thinking thinking

5. He __________ the problem now.

is understanding understand understands

6. She __________ any help.

isn’t needing doesn’t need don’t need

Final writing practice

1. Write one present simple sentence with a habit/action.

2. Write one present simple sentence with a state verb.

3. Write one sentence with a verb that changes meaning: have, think, see, taste or smell.